Los Angeles has the second largest unsheltered homeless population in the United States. According to the homeless street count conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (“LAHSA”) in May 2016, there are almost 46,874 people currently experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County; compared with the previous year, that represents an increase of 2,515 people or 5.7% from 2015 (44,359). Of those counted by LAHSA, 74% were unsheltered. The leading factor contributing to this approximately 6% increase seems to be a severe shortage of affordable housing. The soaring rent has driven up the homeless population, forcing people to live outdoors in tents, shanties, cars and RVs, if they can possess one. The situation has escalated to the point that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors moved to declare homelessness a statewide emergency in August. That same month, the Los Angeles City Council voted to ask the Governor to declare homelessness a statewide emergency.

Amid growing concern about the problem of homelessness in Los Angeles, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is set to meet with local elected officials about the issue.

The U.S. Senate took a vote on protecting LGBT homeless youth from discrimination. During the Senate’s consideration of human trafficking legislation, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) offered the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA) as an amendment. Read More

Signaling a more assertive approach on homelessness, five Los Angeles City Council members introduced a measure, they want to create a council committee focused exclusively on the problem, which costs the city $100 million a year, according to a scathing report issued last week by City Administrative Officer Miguel A. Santana. He described the city’s…

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald, along with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and other Bay Area community leaders, gathered at the Veterans Memorial near San Francisco City Hall Wednesday to announce a 33 percent national decrease of homeless veterans since the White House and U.S. Department of Veterans…

known as the Homeless Bill of Rights, the Colorado legislation would give people “experiencing homelessness” the right to rest and eat or accept food in public spaces where food is not prohibited, as well as occupy a legally parked vehicle, “without discrimination.” Read More

The bills would amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to expand HUD’s definition of “homelessness” to include unaccompanied children and youth designated as homeless under other federal statutes such as the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and the Higher Education Act. This change would mean that children and youth who are living in “doubled up”…

New York City, like other major U.S. cities, uses a count of people living on its streets and alleys, parks and subways to estimate program needs, allocate resources and educate the public on issues facing the poorest residents. The tally is also critical for accessing federal funding to tackle homelessness. Critics say it grossly undercounts…

“There’s a moral obligation to serve those who have served us,” said Loree Sutton, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs. “We are committed to solving the homelessness crisis (and) we are prioritizing veterans and their families.” The city will begin giving veterans first preference for affordable housing units offered to the homeless. They’ll also…